Lombok: Sade Village
Arriving on Lombok Island with no fixed travel itinerary, my sole purpose was to scuba dive. With the diving scheduled to commence the next day and having reached the island in the early morning, I had a whole day to spare before diving into the underwater wonders. Truthfully, I had not researched much about the island before embarking on this impromptu journey. It was a sudden decision sparked by an intense desire to explore a new diving location. Despite having visited Bali and North Sulawesi on multiple occasions and returning from Raja Ampat in January, I was enticed by the lesser-known dive sites of Lombok Island, often overshadowed by its fame for surfing rather than diving. Rest assured, I will share my diving experiences in Lombok soon, which have left a lasting impression on me.
I opted to rent a car with a local driver who would guide me around the island. Given the vastness of Lombok, attempting to cover the entire Island in just a day seemed impossible. I requested the driver to take me to his favourite places in Lombok that were reachable from my hotel.
The first destination he led me to was Sade Village, a captivating traditional settlement that has preserved the customs and traditions of the Sasak tribe. The Sasak tribe holds indigenous significance to the island, and witnessing their way of life was a truly enriching experience.
The local Tourism Office officially recognised the village as a tourist destination due to the residents’ commitment to preserving their indigenous traditions in Lombok. The village is home to 150 families who reside in traditional houses made of fibres and bamboo for their roofs, while the walls are skillfully woven from bamboo. Below, you can find pictures of me standing in front of these houses, taken by a Sasak guide who accompanied me while exploring the village. The houses were undeniably beautiful, but I must note that it was an extremely hot day, and unfortunately, these traditional houses did not have air-conditioning inside.
Most villagers, particularly the women, are skilled weavers; interestingly, weaving is considered a significant aspect of their marital customs. Before marriage, they must demonstrate their proficiency by creating three distinct fabrics known as “ikat” – one for themselves, one for their future husbands, and another for their parents-in-law. Nowadays, these ikat fabrics are sold at relatively high prices due to their cultural value and intricate craftsmanship.
In Lombok, bride kidnapping is still observed among the Sasak people. If a girl goes missing for more than a day, it is often interpreted as a sign that she has been kidnapped for marriage. It’s important to note that Sasak villages are tight-knit communities where everyone knows each other. In many cases, the girl’s family may have already anticipated the possibility of kidnapping, especially if their daughter has a boyfriend. However, it’s worth mentioning that such practices would not be feasible in larger cities like Jakarta, where immediate police involvement would be expected if a daughter goes missing.
“Bride Kidnapping” is not confined to the Sasak community alone; it is also present in certain other ethnic groups in Indonesia, such as those on Sumba Island. Unfortunately, this tradition has been misused to justify early marriages. Although the Indonesian Government has raised the legal marriage age, there are concerns that young people who follow this tradition might not register their marriages, leading to legal disadvantages for young wives and mothers.
The continuation of the tradition that encourages young people in love to marry at a very young age remains to be seen. Local communities and leaders are working to raise awareness about the consequences of early marriage and are introducing alternative aspects of the tradition to discourage young brides and grooms. As someone who experienced divorce after a 15-year marriage, I have come to understand that the honeymoon phase does not last forever. Quoting Munia Khan, “The taste of the moon is like honey to all honeymooners, but does the moon’s scar make it bitter after some time?“
indahs: dive, travel & photography 
I would be hysterical if someone kidnapped my daughter! But she’s married. Great photos, Indah! ❤️
Thank you! 😂 I agree with you on that part! that will freak me out for sure.. 😂
Looks fantastic and so colorful. Enjoy!
how come there are no societies that practice ‘Husband-napping?’ Seems very unfair. At one point in life i think it was my only hope lol! But in all serious, i dont know how families cope even if it’s tradition! Thanks for sharing and actually featuring yourself in photos!
😂 i do wonder! I guess that is how majority people sees women…it is sad actually. But in most cases of the bride napping were agreed by the couple. I guess the term is incorrect – they just run together without telling their families 🙈
I’m glad you’re still traveling and having adventures Indah. Thanks for highlighting this interesting village and its traditional customs. And thanks for giving a peek at the woman behind the photos. Hugs, Brad
Bride kidnapping is something I’ve never heard of. So do they kidnap them and have a proper wedding? Is it usually two young people or an older man with a young girl?
Anyway, that village looks really interesting and beautiful.
This sounded like a wonderful impromptu trip. It was nice of the Sasak guide to take photos of you as you explored. The village houses look beautiful. So interesting to read of the bride kidnapping tradition. Also agree with your thoughts at the end. It takes effort for a partnership to work over time. Hope you are doing well, Indah 🙂
The village looks fascinating Indah although the bride kidnapping lessens my interest. Hoping this is becoming a rarer event as time goes on.
This is really fascinating, Indah. It would have been quite something to discover the traditions of bride kidnapping. The village with their traditional buildings is very beautiful. I love seeing the traditions of the houses & the weaving passed on through the generations. Sadly through the colonization here in Canada those indigenous traditions are all but gone.
Bride kidnapping is such a grey area. Yes it is tradition. I must read up on it more, but it is my hope these girls/young ladies would not be abused, disadvantaged or subjected to being 2nd class human beings. And that they would have every opportunity in life as much as the males in that society. I certainly wouldn’t want my daughter kidnapped to be a bride. It is good the government has raised the marriage age. Though as you mentioned the marriages still happen regardless. Just do not register the marriage.
Thank you for sharing, Indah. It was wonderful seeing you in the photos.